Illuminated stairway



Jufiy 24, 1956 J. H. TUSLY ILLUMINATED STAIRWAY Filed April 17, 1953 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'I INVENTOR.

JOJZ'P/l /7. 7-0:; V

m WT r a i Un St Par ILLUMINATED. STAIRWAY Joseph H. Tusly, Birmingham, Mich. Application April 17, 1953, Serial No. 349,512

3 Claims. (Cl. 240-2) This invention relates to the illumination of a stairway by means of a light source concealed in a chamber beneath the stairway and means associated therewith for separately illuminating each individual step.

The essential requirement in the illumination of a stairway is that every stair be lighted sufliciently to be clearly visible. Usually, either one or more light sources have been employed to illuminate the entire general area of a stairway, or a number of separate lights are used to illuminate each stair individually. Since a stairway is generally elongate and usually has quite a few steps, the latter type system, though desirable in many situations, is relatively complex and expensive of installation as compared to the former, so that its use is precluded. It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and economically installed means for illuminating each stair in a stairway, separately and individually, from a single common light source.

The invention is carried out by means of a single light source'su'ch as a fluorescent or neon tube mounted in a chamber beneath the stairway and extending substantially the length thereof, the surfaces of the chamber exposed to the lamp being provided with reflectors for reflecting light therefrom through an open space subjacent each stair tread, and a reflector associated with each open space to reflect light emanating therefrom downwardly to illuminate the underlying stair. One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, of which the following is a brief description:

Fig. 1 is largely in section showing a stairway with the reflectors of this invention mounted thereon and showing the tube type lamp.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged generally sectional view showing details of construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view partly in section taken generally on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an ensmalled elevational view of a stringer reflector removed from the stringer.

The stairway shown in the drawings has a stringer extending longitudinally along each side thereof, a number of horizontal stair treads 12 secured between the stringers and extending laterally the width of the stairway, and a riser 14 extending generally vertically between each pair of stair treads. The head of the stairway is shown connected with a floor having a joist 16, a subfloor 18, and a finish floor with an overlayment 22 such as carpeting or linoleum thereon. The foot of the stairway may connect with a lower floor or level by suitable construction.

A tube type lamp 24, such as a neon tube or a fluorescent tube, is disposed beneath the stairway and extends substantially the entire length thereof. The tube is held in a fixture 26 which may be secured into place by such means as screws 28 secured to one of the stringers 10. The fixture and tube in their entirety are positioned above the lower edge 30 of the stringer as best shown in Fig. 1. Where it is convenient or necessary because of the length of the stairway, the light source may be comprised of a plurality of tubes mounted end to end in a single fixture or in a plurality of fixtures.

A closure panel and reflector 32 is secured to the lower edges 30 of the stringers 10 in such a way as to define, together with the stringers 10, stair treads 12 and risers 14, an illumination chamber 34 extending the length of the stairway and enclosing the lamp 24. To facilitate easy removal of the reflector 32 from time to time for cleaning purposes or for replacement of the lamp 24, one edge portion thereof is preferably secured to one of the stringers by removable means such as screws 34 while the other edge may be secured to the other stringer by such means as the bracket 36. The reflector 32 may consist of a single monolithic member or, where desirable, may comprise a plurality of members secured together by such means as the bolts 38 extending through flange portions 40 as shown.

A stringer reflector 42 which may have the shape shown in Fig. 4 is secured by suitable means to the inner surface 44- of each stringer 10. One edge of the stringer reflector is stepped, having horizontal portions 46 and vertical portions 48 to mesh respectively with the lower surfaces of the stair treads 12 and the reverse surfaces 50 of the risers 14. The other edge of the stringer reflector is shaped to fit the lower edge 30 of the stringer 10, which is preferably straight, and may have a flap 52 adapted to be folded around the lower edge 30 for attachment pur-' poses. One of the flaps may be secured into position by the bracket 36 and the other flap by an edge portion of the closure panel and reflector 32 as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the stringer reflector may be shaped as desired to conform to the structure at the head and foot of the stairway.

A riser reflector 54 is mounted by suitable means on the reverse surface 50 of each riser 14 and preferably extends the length of the riser between the stringers 10. There is a window or light port 56 subjacent each stair tread 12 which extends substantially the length of the riser and which is preferably formed by a hiatus between portions of the riser and the stair tread as shown. One end portion 58 of the riser reflector may be folded over an upper portion of the riser for attachment thereto. The end portion 58 may also be utilized to secure linoleum or other overlayment 60 to the outer face of the riser as best shown in Fig. 2. In the type of stairway having no risers 14, the reflector 54 may be secured to the inner end 61 of the stair tread 12.

A stair tread reflector 62 is secured by suitable means to the bottom surface of each stair tread and extends the length thereof between the stringers 10. One edge portion 64 of the stair tread reflector extends at right angles thereto for attachment to the contiguous riser 14 and may be utilized to secure the lower edge of the riser reflector 54 into place (Fig. 2). The opposite edge 66 of the stair tread reflector extends outwardly beyond the riser 14 and is curved downwardly, as the drawings are viewed, through substantially 90 in order to provide a reflecting surface 68 disposed outside of the illumination chamber 34 and forwardly of the window 56, whose purpose will app ear subsequently.

A nose plate 70 is secured by suitable means to the face of the forward edge of each stair tread 12 as shown. Each nose plate runs the length of the stair tread and extends downwardly therefrom to a location below the lowest extremity of the window or light port 56. At the lowest edge 72 of the nose plate is an inwardly returnbent portion which engages the curved edge portion 66 of the stair tread reflector and provides support therefor. The upper edge of the nose plate is preferably secured in place by means of an L-shaped molding strip 74 which also serves to secure into place the linoleum or Patented July 24, 1956 &7

ther o erlayment. .611. on the wearingsurfaceoflthestair tread.

Other reflectors may be fashioned as required to line the: nor heast oi: he .illinmineiion-ohanrhennflz atnthei head; and foot of the stairway. The vaaionarefleetingesnrfaees, which; face: or: line.- the; interior: i illiiminatt-ienzchamberrhaweze higlmalbedosor areziiighly reflective :and' tozthisa end; they; may adyantageously eemprise: white:- or: pastel colo ed: sheathing; or: coating; matezrialr or: or: right ahse im tal; whiehrmmnuv-eramaybe easilyfashiene zin-te thereflectorshapesdescribedr The windows; 515: may eonstitute: slit-like: openings in illnminatiemehamber thro gh li i' as'w m nate t l uminate. the: stairain; thermanner, generally 51: lustretediby theidp ted l'isllfijGj-fllfifi. 2- Ae:shoWn,.each stair:tread.:.refleeton62, curved PfilitlOnvfiS ying. outside: or the illumination .--chamber as, serves. to isses t1 light emanafing from the; chamber in a generally downwarddirec ion in? such. a way. as to illuminate'the entire outer or obverse surface of the tread 1-2". and: riser. 141 :snhiacent theretor Th l wer extremity 7210f theynqseplaterj 0 is p sitioned enter-belowa line between fihfivlQWBI: edge of the opening 56.; and the-xfonward. upper edge 7 8;- ofi-the. stair tread 12:50 that light emanatingfrom: -the;opening 56 cannot-shinezdirectly into the eyes of a persornaseefldiug. the stairway while-hiseye levelwislower 1113.11; stairs abflvehhn. Where-the. riser 14 has a; sub stantial thickness, the upper portion 80 thereof maybe hevelledwas shown:- to :increasethe amount "of. light pass ing ,thronglr--the opening 56': The exterior reflector structurecomprising elements 68 and 70 thus serves the dual purposes-reflecting the. light for illumination and.;ob scur-. ing the light from direct view.

of; the various reflective. surfaces lining. the il= lumination chamber 34-zare exposedsto the lamp. 24and light therefrom is hence difiused generally throughout flier-chamber. As, :a-result, a, substantially equal-amount of: light. emanates from each of. the. openings '56; so: that fill-Offithfi stairs.- aresubstanjtially equally illuminated. Further, .there isvery littledifierence between: the inensity oi the light emanating from regions; ofthe. opening. 5.6.+adi.fl9ent. the lamp- 24 and.- regions. remote therefrom, soathafthere is substantially uniform illumination otlthestairsthroughout theirlength, i. e.,. laterally of the staii'way-.v

The refleetor-linedlight chamber beneath the. stairway and. the. slit-like light orifice at the. top of each stair thus constitutes-- simple, efficient, and economically installed insane-for separately illuminating eachindividual stair in the stairway.

Such terms; as-up, down, vertical, and horizontal? are. used herein-merely as convenient terminology ndsnotasdelimitations- Ielaim;

1. A Stairway comprising, aplurality of longitudinal stringers, a pluralityofrisers and treadsextendingrtransverselyofsaid stringers. in alternate arrangement-and forming stairs, the forwardledge portions ofisaid treads overhanging. saidrrisers, .means forming, a. window ad? iacent. the top,- of each riser. for transmitting light, alight sonl'cemountedwbeneath. said stairs, and. a reflector dependingirom the .iorwardedgeportion of each tr.ead,said reflectors being operative to reflect downwardly light Pass.-

i 4 :7 thro ehhsaid. hereby. to obverse portions of said stairs, each reflector extending below the lower extremity 'ot the window in the subjacent riser a suflicient distance to reflect substantially all light passing said window downwardly of :theforward edge of the next lower tread, whereby to obscure saidwindows from the view of a personraseending said stairway.

2. A stairway comprising, a plurality of longitudinal stringers, a plurality ofarisers-aud ttreadssextending transversely of said stringfil's "in alternate. arrangement and forming stairs, the forward edge portions ofsaid treads overhanging:said-ri$ers;-.,means forming; an; elongate. window adjacent the top of each riser for transmit-ting light, closure means cooperating with" said stringers and said stairs to form a light chamber beneath said stairs, an elongate light source in said chamber, said light source extending substantially the length of said stairway and extending: transversely of saidwindews, reflector: means oil-the; surtaeesz-defin ngz the: interior of: said chamber for: difinsing; the: lightv thereinto: provide;- generallyunifonn radiation through; said windowsa The reflector means on" the underside. of, eaeh= tread:- having: 1 end pontion projecting. through-the: window in;--the: subjacent; riser ex.- teriorly of. :chamben, said-endportions being formed.) downwardly to reflect downwardly lightpassing. throughsaid. windows, whereby. toillum'inate said stairs, each: endlporltion' extending, below theflowenextremity of the window in the su-bjacent. risento reflect substantially: all/light fromsaid window downwardly-of the forward; edge, oi the. next lower tread, whereby, to obscure said" windows from the .viewof a person ascendingv the? stair-- way, and.-anxelement secnred. to said forward edge 'por-- tion of each tread-,..8a.-id elementsgsuppor-ting said-endzportions ofisaidrefiectms 3. A stairway comprising, riser means and tread means secured; inral-ternate arrangement, .said tread means -hav- 7 ing, forward. edge .portionsroverh-angingg said. riser means,- window means adjacent the topofis-aid riser means for transmit-tinglighg. means: forminga light source. beneath saidrisen means and tread. means,z and-reflector meansextendingxlownwardly from said. forward edge portions of lsaidftread means, said reflector means. being operative to: reflect downwardly, light. passing through saidv window means whereby, to illuminate the obverseportions .ofi said stairway, said. reflector'rneans extending, below the .lower extremity of saidwindow. means a sufficient distance to reflect substantially all.lightpas ingathroughsaid window meansdownwardly of the.v forward. edge portion of; the-- next lower tread means, whereby tozobscuresaidswindow meansfromtheview of apersonascending saidstairway.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES' PATENTS Great Britain .Aug. 24, 1937 

